An independent guide to the Nanakshahi calendar, Gurpurab and Sikh heritage
Our complete library of explanatory articles, grouped by topic. Each one is written to answer a real question clearly, from how the Nanakshahi months work to what happens at Sri Harmandir Sahib each morning.
How Sikh dates are counted, and why they sometimes differ.
Why two calendars can give two different dates for the same Gurpurab, and what to do about it: a step-by-step method for confirming Sikh dates, plus practical advice for families, schools, workplaces and gurdwara committees.
6 min read
Punjabi households live by three calendars at once. This explainer shows how the Bikrami, Nanakshahi and Gregorian systems work, why festival dates move, and how to read a Punjabi jantri.
6 min read
The Nanakshahi calendar counts its years from Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birth in 1469 and fixes Punjabi months to the solar year. Here is how it was developed, how its twelve months work, and why it remains debated.
9 min read
The meaning of Gurpurab and how the Sikh Gurus are remembered.
Gurpurab is often used to mean Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birth anniversary, but the word covers far more. Here is what it means, the kinds of Gurpurab Sikhs observe, and the traditions that shape them.
6 min read
Guru Nanak Jayanti marks the birth of the first Sikh Guru. Learn why it falls on the full moon of Katak, what happens during Akhand Path and Nagar Kirtan, and how anyone can take part respectfully.
7 min read
The life, journeys and teachings of the first Sikh Guru.
Why is Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birth celebrated in Katak when some early sources point to Vaisakh? This guide looks at the date question, the places at the heart of the Gurpurab, and how the day unfolds in a gurdwara.
6 min read
A careful biography of the first Sikh Guru: what the sources tell us, the journey from Talwandi to Kartarpur, the teachings preserved in his hymns, and the community and tradition that grew from them.
9 min read
Understanding the daily Hukamnama and Mukhwak from Sri Darbar Sahib.
How the day begins at Sri Harmandir Sahib: the palki procession from Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Prakash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the morning Hukamnama, and how a reading in Amritsar reaches Sikhs around the world.
5 min read
Mukhwak, Vak and Hukamnama are used almost interchangeably, but each word carries its own emphasis. This guide explains the terms, the procedure for taking a Vak, and how the practice shapes daily Sikh life.
5 min read
A practical, step-by-step guide to finding the daily Hukamnama from the Golden Temple, reading its heading and structure, using translations wisely and reflecting on it. This guide contains no daily text of its own.
6 min read
The word Hukamnama can mean the daily reading from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, a historical letter from a Guru, or an edict from Sri Akal Takht Sahib. This guide untangles the meanings and explains why the Hukamnama from Sri Darbar Sahib matters.
6 min read
The Golden Temple, Sri Darbar Sahib, and the city around it.
What to wear, where to leave your shoes, how the darshan queue works, when to go for the quietest visit, and how to take part in langar and seva: a respectful, practical guide to visiting the Golden Temple.
6 min read
From Guru Ram Das Ji's sarovar to Maharaja Ranjit Singh's gilding and the trauma of 1984, the Golden Temple's history is the history of the Sikh community. This article traces its story and reads its architecture.
7 min read
Harmandir Sahib, Darbar Sahib, the Golden Temple, Sachkhand: one shrine in Amritsar carries many names. Here is what each one means, where it comes from and when to use it.
5 min read
Bandi Chhor Divas, Vaisakhi, Hola Mohalla and other observances.
A season-by-season guide to the Sikh year: the major Gurpurabs, martyrdom days and festivals, what each one marks, which calendar sets its date, and roughly when to expect it.
7 min read
Sikhs light lamps on the same night as Diwali, but they are remembering something different. How the two observances came to share a date, what separates them, and how families navigate both.
6 min read
Guru Hargobind Ji's release from Gwalior Fort, the fifty-two kings who walked out with him, and the lamps that greeted him in Amritsar: the story at the heart of Bandi Chhor Divas and how it came to be celebrated.
6 min read
Historic gurdwaras, the Takhts and the places that shaped the Panth.
From Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi to Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded, a guide to the historic gurdwaras that mark the lives of the Gurus: what happened at each, the five Takhts, and how these places are cared for today.
7 min read
Kirtan, language and the everyday practice of Sikh life.
Kirtan has been sung at Sri Harmandir Sahib almost continuously for centuries, and today it reaches homes worldwide. What kirtan is, how the day's programme unfolds, who the ragis are, and how to find the official broadcast.
6 min read
A clear English explanation of Bandi Chhor Divas: what the words mean, how to pronounce and spell them, why 'chhor' does not mean 'thief', and a short version of the story you can share with friends, colleagues or children.
5 min read